Implant with antenna array

ABSTRACT

Implant devices described herein may be adapted to communicate with other devices via an antenna array. The antenna array may be configured to minimize radiation to surrounding tissue and/or maximize signal power in a direction of device(s) with which the implant device communicates.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority is claimed to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/577,909,entitled “IMPLANT WITH ANTENNA ARRAY”, filed on Oct. 13, 2009, issued asU.S. Pat. No. 8,417,340 on Apr. 9, 2013, and identified by attorneydocket number MTCW001201, which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in thissection are not prior art to the claims in this application and are notadmitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.

The Federal communication Commission (FCC-USA) and the EuropeanTelecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI) have allocated radiofrequency bandwidth for Medical Implanted Communication Service (MICS).MICS is an ultra-low power, unlicensed, mobile radio service fortransmitting data in support of diagnostic or therapeutic functionsassociated with implanted medical devices. MICS permits individuals andmedical practitioners to utilize ultra-low power medical implantdevices, such as cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators, without causinginterference to other users of the electromagnetic radio spectrum.

MICS signifies the rise of wirelessly communicating medical implants.Technological developments in this field will lead to a wide variety oflife saving and life improving devices. While the many excitingdevelopments and new devices are encouraging, significant challengesremain to be overcome.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparentfrom the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depictonly several embodiments in accordance with the disclosure and are,therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope, the disclosurewill be described with additional specificity and detail through use ofthe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example implant device;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a computing device as one exampleof a device with which an implant device may communicate;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating additional example aspects of animplant device;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating example operations that may beperformed by an implant device;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example remote antenna arrayunit coupled to an implant device;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating example electromagnetic wavessubstantially parallel and normal to a tissue plane;

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating an example electromagnetic interferencepattern from an antenna array comprising two dipole antennas;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example antenna array unitwith separately controllable antenna elements;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example implant device; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating example implant devices, an externaldevice, a network and a medical provider device; all arranged inaccordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe Figures, may be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in awide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitlycontemplated and made part of this disclosure.

This disclosure is generally drawn, inter alia, to methods, devices,and/or systems related to implant devices. An example implant devicedescribed herein may be adapted to communicate with other devices via anantenna array. The antenna array may be configured to minimize radiationto surrounding tissue and/or maximize signal power in a direction ofdevice(s) with which the implant device communicates.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example implant device 100implanted inside an organism 190. Example implant device 100 maycomprise a housing 110 in which a microchip controller 120, an antennaarray 150, a spacer 160 and a reflector 170 may be disposed, along witha variety of other implant device electronics (not shown) as may besuitable for particular implant device types. Microchip controller 120may comprise transmission controls 121, processing unit 122, andcomputer readable medium 123. Antenna array 150 may comprise a pluralityof antenna elements 151, 152. Also illustrated in FIG. 1 are sensor 191and electrode 192, illustrated outside the housing 110 but inside theorganism 190, and external computing device 200, disposed outside theorganism 190.

In FIG. 1, implant device 100 may be coupled to sensor 191 via a wiredor wireless connection 133, over which sensor data 134 may betransmitted. Implant device 100 may be coupled to electrode 192 via awired or wireless connection 135, over which therapy delivery signals136 may be transmitted. Microchip controller 120 may be coupled toantenna array 150 via wired or wireless coupling 131, over which implantdevice data 132 may be transmitted. Implant device 100 may be coupled toexternal device 200 via a wireless connection 137, over which implantdevice data 132 may be transmitted.

Implant device 100 operations may be carried out by microchip controller120, in connection with any other implant device components as suitedfor particular implant types. For example, where implant device 100 is apacemaker, any currently used or future developed pacemaker componentsmay be utilized in cooperation with, or in place of, microchipcontroller 120, to monitor and/or restore heartbeat rhythm according tothe desired function of the particular implant type. In one examplescenario, microchip controller 120 may be adapted to receive biometricdata from sensor 191 in the form of sensor data 134, and may storesensor data 134 in computer readable medium 123. Microchip controller120 may also be adapted to administer electrical energy (e.g., current,charge, voltage, etc), micro-robot control information, medications,instructions for other implant devices, or other medical servicesaffecting the organism 190 via elements such as electrode 192. A log ofimplant device operations, such as a log of therapy delivery signals 136sent to electrode 192, may also be stored in computer readable medium123. The sensor data 134 as well as the log of therapy delivery signals136 and a variety of other data, as discussed further herein, maygenerally be referred to herein as implant device data 132.

Implant device 100 may be adapted to communicate wirelessly with otherdevices by sending implant device data 132 via antenna array 150. Forexample, a pacemaker implant device 100 may from time to time wirelesslytransmit stored heartbeat data via wireless connection 137 to anexternal device 200 configured to communicate with the pacemaker, andmay also receive data and commands from the external device 200. Anexample external device 200 is discussed in greater detail withreference to FIG. 2. An external device 200 may for example comprise ahandheld device disposed external to organism 190. Implant device data132 may be stored, analyzed, and further transmitted by such an externaldevice 200, as discussed in detail in connection with FIG. 10.

The antenna array 150, spacer 160 and/or reflector 170 may be configuredto produce a wireless signal that may be optimized for a variety ofbeneficial properties. For example, in some embodiments, orientation ofthe housing 110 and positions and sizes of the antenna elements 151,152, spacer 160 and/or reflector 170 may be selected to reduceelectromagnetic radiation in the organism 190 and enhance signalstrength for transmissions in the direction of the external device 200.

In embodiments such as FIG. 1 in which the antenna array 150 may bedisposed in a fixed position inside the housing 110, the housing 110 maybe designed for implantation in a predefined orientation with respect toa plane of an organism tissue layer 180. For example, the housing 110may be designed for implantation in an orientation that places theantenna array 150 substantially parallel to the tissue layer 180 withthe reflector 170 opposite the tissue layer 180. The housing 110 may forexample comprise a thin wafer or coin style design which may be insertedbetween tissue layers.

The antenna elements 151, 152 may for example be disposed within theantenna array 150 and the oriented housing 110 such that they may alsobe substantially parallel to a plane of the tissue layer 180. In FIG. 1,a side view of the antenna array 150 shows cross-sections of the antennaelements 151, 152, each element comprising for example a metallic wiredipole type antenna oriented substantially perpendicular to the surfaceof the page, and substantially parallel to the other antenna element ofthe antenna array 150, and substantially parallel to the plane of thetissue layer 180. The antenna elements 151, 152 may be disposed at afixed distance from one another, wherein the fixed distance may beselected to promote destructive interference of electromagnetic wavesemitted by the individual antenna elements in the plane of the tissuelayer 180, and constructive interference of the electromagnetic waves ina direction substantially normal to the plane of the tissue layer 180.In FIG. 1, the direction substantially normal to the plane of the tissuelayer 180 is also the direction of the external device 200.

Furthermore, the reflector 170 may be disposed at a fixed reflectingdistance from the antenna array 150, wherein the fixed reflectingdistance may be selected to promote constructive interference ofreflected electromagnetic waves with the electromagnetic waves beingemitted by the individual antenna elements 151, 152 in a directionsubstantially normal to the plane of the tissue layer 180. The spacer160 may be disposed between the reflector 170 and the antenna array 150,and the spacer 160 may be of an appropriate thickness, as discussedfurther in connection with FIG. 5, to promote the desired interference.The reflector 170 may thus block electromagnetic radiation that wouldotherwise enter the organism 190, and strengthen the signal transmittedto the external device.

In some embodiments, implant device 100 may be any electronic deviceimplantable into an organism 190. Implant device 100 may comprise, forexample, a swallowable pill-shaped device or microrobot device foradministering treatment and/or gathering data which may includebiometric, audio and/or video data, a device for treating hyperthermia,a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a glucose monitor, an insulin pump, ahearing aid, a device for health care facility communication, a devicefor medical and emergency equipment tracking, and a remote patientmonitoring device. Implant device 100 may include any of the variety oftechnologies and components in use or as may be developed for these andother implant device types.

In some embodiments, sensor 191 and electrode 192 may be any componentsneeded for particular implant device types. For example, differentsensor types may be needed depending on the implant. In a pacemaker, aheartbeat monitor type of sensor may be used, while in a glucose monitora glucose measurement type of sensor may be used. Sensor data 134 maycomprise, for example, biometric data received at sensor 191. Biometricdata may include a wide variety of data including but not limited toelectrical potential data, temperature data, audio or video data,accelerometer or other motion data, and chemical environment data suchas glucose measurements.

Electrode 192 may for example be replaced with an insulin pump,microrobot device controlled from implant 100, another implant incommunication with implant 100, or some other device adapted foradministering treatment according to the appropriate implant type, asdiscussed above. Therapy delivery signals 136 may comprise, for example,electrical pulses to be administered at the location of the electrode192. Therapy delivery signals 136 may also comprise, for example,control information for the electrode 192, in embodiments in whichelectrode 192 is configured to receive and implement commands containedin the control information.

Given the wide variety of sensor and electrode data that may be utilizedin particular implant device 100 embodiments, implant device data 132may include any of a wide variety of data communicated between implantdevice 100 and another device. Devices to which implant device data 132may be sent (e.g., transmitted) or from which implant device data 132may be received via array 150 include, for example, sensor 191,electrode 192, other implant devices, and devices external to theorganism 190. Implant device data 132 may include, for example, one ormore of sensor data such as 134, therapy delivery signals such as 136,emergency alert data, implant device operations data such as operationshistory and scheduled operations, implant device properties data such asimplant device identification, configuration, capabilities, remainingbattery life, and status of various implant device components, andimplant control data such as control data from an external devicecontaining commands to be carried out by the implant device 100.

In some embodiments, the antenna elements 151, 152 of the antenna array150 may comprise antennas of one or more antenna types. For example,antenna elements 151, 152 may comprise whip-type antennas, dipole-typeantennas, planar antennas such as patch antennas and Tapered SlotAntennas (TSAs), and/or microstrip-type antennas.

In some embodiments, one or more of housing 110 orientation, antennaarray 150 orientation, antenna element 151, 152 spacing, and/orreflector 170 orientation may be adjusted as appropriate to achieve adesired direction of strongest transmission. For example, by orientingthe housing 110 or antenna array 150 at an angle that is notsubstantially parallel to the tissue layer 180, a transmission directionother than normal to layer 180 may be achieved. Similarly, antennaelement spacing and/or reflector angle may be adjusted to change thedirection of strongest constructive interference, to achieve anglesother than normal to the tissue plane.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a computing device 200 as oneexample of a device external to the organism 190 in FIG. 1, with whichan implant device 100 may communicate, arranged in accordance with atleast some embodiments of the present disclosure. In a very basicconfiguration 201, computing device 200 typically may include one ormore processors 210 and system memory 220. A memory bus 230 may be usedfor communicating between the processor 210 and the system memory 220.

Depending on the desired configuration, processor 210 may be of any typeincluding but not limited to a microprocessor (g), a microcontroller(μC), a digital signal processor (DSP), or any combination thereofProcessor 210 may include one or more levels of caching, such as a levelone cache 211 and a level two cache 212, a processor core 213, andregisters 214. The processor core 213 may include an arithmetic logicunit (ALU), a floating point unit (FPU), a digital signal processingcore (DSP Core), or any combination thereof A memory controller 215 mayalso be used with the processor 210, or in some implementations thememory controller 215 may be an internal part of the processor 210.

Depending on the desired configuration, the system memory 220 may be ofany type including but not limited to volatile memory (such as RAM),non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.), or anycombination thereof System memory 220 typically includes an operatingsystem 221, one or more applications 222, and program data 225.Applications 223-224 may include, for example, communicate with implantmodule(s) 223 and analyze implant data module(s) 224. Program data226-227 may include implant device data 226 and implant control data 227that may be used by applications 223-224. Communicate with implantmodule(s) 223 may be customized in some embodiments for communicationwith implants comprising antenna arrays, such as antenna array 150 asdisclosed herein. Furthermore, Communicate with implant module(s) 223may comprise application instructions for communicating via an antennaarray similar to 150 and disposed in the device 200, for two-waycommunication via antenna array.

Computing device 200 may have additional features or functionality, andadditional interfaces to facilitate communications between the basicconfiguration 201 and any required devices and interfaces. For example,a bus/interface controller 240 may be used to facilitate communicationsbetween the basic configuration 201 and one or more data storage devices250 via a storage interface bus 241. The data storage devices 250 may beremovable storage devices 251, non-removable storage devices 252, or acombination thereof Examples of removable storage and non-removablestorage devices include magnetic disk devices such as flexible diskdrives and hard-disk drives (HDD), optical disk drives such as compactdisk (CD) drives or digital versatile disk (DVD) drives, solid statedrives (SSD), and tape drives, to name a few. Example computer storagemedia may include volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removablemedia implemented in any method or technology for storage ofinformation, such as computer readable instructions, data structures,program modules, or other data.

System memory 220, removable storage 251, and non-removable storage 252are all examples of computer storage media. Computer storage mediaincludes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or othermemory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or otheroptical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that maybe used to store the desired information and that may be accessed bycomputing device 200. Any such computer storage media may be part ofdevice 200.

Computing device 200 may also include an interface bus 242 forfacilitating communication from various interface devices (e.g., outputinterfaces, peripheral interfaces, and communication interfaces) to thebasic configuration 201 via the bus/interface controller 240. Exampleoutput devices 260 include a graphics processing unit 261 and an audioprocessing unit 262, which may be configured to communicate to variousexternal devices such as a display or speakers via one or more AN ports263. Example peripheral interfaces 270 include a serial interfacecontroller 271 or a parallel interface controller 272, which may beconfigured to communicate through either wired or wireless connectionswith external devices such as input devices (e.g., keyboard, mouse, pen,voice input device, touch input device, etc.) or other peripheraldevices (e.g., printer, scanner, etc.) via one or more I/O ports 273.Other conventional I/O devices may be connected as well such as a mouse,keyboard, and so forth. An example communications device 280 includes anetwork controller 281, which may be arranged to facilitatecommunications with one or more other computing devices 290, e.g.,implant devices such as 100 or medical provider devices as discussed inconnection with FIG. 10, over a network communication via one or morecommunication ports 282.

The communications connection is one example of a communication media.Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readableinstructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in amodulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transportmechanism, and include any information delivery media. A “modulated datasignal” may be a signal that has one or more of its characteristics setor changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. Byway of example, and not limitation, communication media may includewired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, andwireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR),and other wireless media.

Computing device 200 may be implemented as a portion of a small-formfactor portable (or mobile) electronic device such as a cell phone, apersonal data assistant (PDA), a personal media player device, awireless web-watch device, a personal headset device, anapplication-specific device, or a hybrid device that include any of theabove functions. Computing device 200 may also be implemented as apersonal computer including both laptop computer and non-laptop computerconfigurations.

In some embodiments, computing device 200 may support “two-hop” protocolcommunications between implants, in which a first implant sends (ortransmits) via an antenna array implant device data to device 200, whichis located external to an organism, and device 200 then forwards theimplant device data to a second implant in the organism. Thisarrangement may be beneficial in some embodiments because tissue is alossy medium which may hinder direct implant to implant communications.

In some embodiments, computing device 200 may comprise an implantdevice, microrobot, or other device internal to an organism. Computingdevice 200 may occasionally be referred to herein as an external device200, which should not be construed as a requirement that device 200 belocated external to an organism in all embodiments. Reference to device200 as an external device is rather for the purpose of illustrating somenon-limiting embodiments.

In some embodiments, device 200 may be configured to communicate with animplant device so that device 200 may securely provide processing,storage and communications assistance to the implant device. Small sizeis generally advantageous for an implant, while much larger sizes may beused for devices external to the organism. Therefore, device 200 may beequipped to perform data storage and analysis on behalf of an implant,may communicate with other devices on behalf of implant, and may sendimplant commands to an implant as part of implant device data, asappropriate. Transmissions to and from an implant device may beencrypted or otherwise secured using for example a proprietary wirelesscommunications protocol.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating additional example aspects of animplant device 100, arranged in accordance with at least someembodiments of the present disclosure. Elements of FIG. 3 introduced inFIG. 1 are assigned like identifiers, including antenna array 150,spacer 160, reflector 170, microchip controller 120, processor 122,computer readable medium 123 and transmission controls 121. Furthermore,implant device 100 may be an electronic device that may contain aspectsof a computing device such as the device described with reference toFIG. 2. Implant device 100 may generally comprise a small form factordevice in which features and components are miniature and designed forlow power consumption.

FIG. 3 may further include power supply 305 and additional aspects ofmicrochip controller 120. In particular, microchip controller 120 mayinclude a variety of modules comprising instructions on computerreadable medium 123 which may be executable by processor 122, andmicrochip controller 120 may include sensor, electrode, and arrayantenna interfaces 350.

Computer readable medium 123 may include modules for “TreatmentOperations” 320 and “Transmission Controls” 121. Treatment operations320 may include for example “Data Collection And Storage” 321, “DataAnalysis” 322, and “Therapy Delivery” 323. Transmission controls 121 mayinclude modules for “Initiate Communications” 341, “Detect Direction ofIncoming Signals” 342, “Adjust Direction of Outgoing Signals” 343,“Detect And Adjust Signal Power” 344, “Detect And Recover From AntennaElement Failure” 345, and “Send Device Data” 346.

With reference to FIG. 3, in some embodiments operations of an implantdevice 100 may be carried out by a microchip controller 120 powered by apower supply 305 such as a battery. The processor 122 may executeinstructions recorded on computer readable medium 123. It will beappreciated that implant device 100 is an electronic device, andmicrochip controller 120 is also an electronic device. Implant device100, microchip controller 120, and/or any of the various sensors,electrodes, and other components with which the implant device 100 andmicrochip controller 120 may be equipped may accordingly be referred toherein as an electronic device.

“Treatment Operations” modules 320 may generally comprise modules toperform routine operations of an implant device 100. TreatmentOperations modules 320 may include for example “Data Collection AndStorage” module 321 to gather biometric data from sensors and storingthe biometric data in a memory. Treatment Operations modules 320 mayalso include for example “Data Analysis” module 322 to analyze biometricdata. While data analysis requires power consumption, which maydesirably be minimized in many implanted devices. For example, where itmay be efficiently determined that certain collected data has a highprobability of being irrelevant, it may be more energy-efficient todiscard the irrelevant data rather than transmit irrelevant data to anexternal device for further analysis. Data Analysis module 322 may alsocomprise data compression instructions in some embodiments. TreatmentOperations module 320 may also include for example “Therapy Delivery”module 323 configured to deliver therapies by the implant device 100 toan organism. Therapy Delivery module 323 may include for exampleinstructions to control heartbeat regulation signals of a pacemaker,insulin release of a glucose monitor, electricity discharges of brainelectrodes, and/or instructions to control any of the other therapiesadministratable by an implant device.

“Transmission Controls” modules 121 may generally compriseinstructions/modules adapted to control one or more of the timing,initiation, receiving and/or sending of implant device data via anantenna array with properties selected for use with particularembodiments. “Initiate Communications” module 341 may compriseinstructions adapted to initiate sending and/or receiving ofcommunications with an external device via an antenna array. In someembodiments, Initiate Communications module 341 may be configured to usea timer to periodically initiate transmissions via the antenna array,for example, periodically transmitting collected device data via theantenna array to an external device. In some embodiments, InitiateCommunications module 341 may be configured to respond to a wake-upsignal received from an external device via the antenna array. In someembodiments, Initiate Communications module 341 may be configured torespond to detection of an external device within transmission range ofthe antenna array. In some embodiments, Initiate Communications modules341 may be arranged to initiate communications by sending an emergencydistress signal via the antenna array, in response to detection of adangerous condition in the organism. Communications may also beinitiated in response to non-emergency conditions, such as low batterypower remaining in an implant device power supply or failure of anon-essential implant device component such as, in some embodiments, anindividual antenna element of the antenna array.

In some embodiments, Transmission Controls module 121 may include“Detect Direction of Incoming Signals” module 342. Because an antennaarray contains a plurality of antenna elements, the relative phases ofsignals arriving at different antenna elements may be analyzed by module342 to determine direction of the incoming signals.

In some embodiments, Transmission Controls module 121 may include“Adjust Direction of Outgoing Signals” module 343. Modules 343 may forexample be adapted to respond to detection of incoming signal directionby module 342 by sending outgoing signals in a substantially oppositedirection. For example, if an external device is transmitting to animplant device 100 from a position thirty degrees off of a vector normalto the tissue plane, the implant device 100 may detect the direction ofthe external device using module 342, and use module 343 to directtransmitted signals in the opposite direction, i.e., to the detectedposition of the external device, to improve signal power andtransmission quality at the external device. In some embodiments, module343 may make use of separately controllable antenna elements, forexample, as illustrated in FIG. 8. By adjusting the phase of the signalstransmitted by the antenna elements, the direction of strongest signalmay be correspondingly adjusted. Appropriate controllable circuitry fordirecting antenna array transmissions, such as by adjusting phase ofantenna element signals, may be furthermore used in some embodiments.While direction control may be achieved using phase adjustment ofantennas in an antenna array comprising two antenna elements, additionalcontrol may be used by adding controllable antenna elements, asappreciated by those of skill in antenna theory.

In some embodiments, Transmission Controls module 121 may include“Detect And Adjust Signal Power” module 344. Detect And Adjust SignalPower module 344 may for example be adapted to detect power of a signalreceived from an external device, and may be arranged to increase and/ordecrease a power of a signal sent to an antenna array based on thedetected signal power.

For example, two predetermined signal power thresholds, comprising a lowpower threshold and a high power threshold, may be predetermined in someembodiments. If a received signal is measured to have a received signalpower lower than the low power threshold, the received signal power maybe determined to be weak. Where a received signal power is determined tobe weak, a transmitted signal power calculated by module 344 may berelatively strong (e.g., at or above the high power threshold), toaccount for any circumstances producing the weak received signal.

Conversely, where a received signal is measured to have a receivedsignal power higher than the high power threshold, the received signalpower may be determined to be strong. Where a received signal power isdetermined to be strong, a transmitted signal power calculated by module344 may be relatively weak (e.g., at or below the low power threshold),to preserve implant device battery power under circumstances in which astrong signal may not be necessary.

Detect And Adjust Signal Power module 344 for an antenna array may bedifferent from instructions that would be used for a single antenna, atleast in part due to the addition of signals from the multiple antennaelements. Module 344 may be arranged to perform the appropriateadjustment for the properties of particular antenna arrays. Furthermore,embodiments using a reflector may be configured to transmit differentsignal powers, and respond differently to changes in signal power, asembodiments without a reflector. Signal power calculations made bymodule 344 may be implemented according to the presence or absence of areflector as appropriate for particular array antenna and reflectorembodiments.

In some embodiments, Transmission controls 121 may include “Detect andRecovering From Antenna Element Failure” module 345. One advantage ofusing an antenna array may be that implant device transmissions mayremain possible even after failure of one of the antenna elements of thearray. The remaining non-failed antenna(s) of the array may continuesending and/or receiving device transmissions. In some embodiments,module 345 may respond to circuitry for detecting failure of an antennaelement, and may respond to this detected failure. In some embodiments,the response implemented by module 345 may comprise including antennaelement failure data in implant device data 132 that may be sent to anexternal device, so that the failure may be brought to the attention ofthe implant user or medical personnel. Antenna element failure data mayfor example identify one or more failed antenna elements, or may providea percentage of failed or non-failed antenna elements remaining in anantenna array. In some embodiments, the response implemented by module345 may comprise adjusting signal power using module 344 and/orutilizing modules 342 and 343 to optimize communications with remainingfunctioning antenna element(s).

In some embodiments, Transmission Controls 121 may include “Send DeviceData” module 346. Module 346 may be adapted to encode implant devicedata 132 into a signal for wireless transmission, and send the signal toan array antenna. The signal may be modulated, amplified, or otherwiseadjusted by a variety of antenna array electronics as appropriate forparticular embodiments. Module 346 may also be accompanied byinstructions for decoding communications received from an externaldevice via the antenna array.

FIG. 3 illustrates sensor, electrode, and antenna array interfaces 350as may be included in implant device 100. Interfaces 350 may comprisesoftware and/or hardware aspects. For example, interfaces 350 maycomprise hardware plug and wire structures and corresponding circuitryfor sending and receiving data to and from one or more sensors,electrodes, and/or antenna arrays. Hardware aspects may be accompaniedby instructions for microchip controller 120 to convert, read, and/orstore received data.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating example operations that may beperformed by an implant device 100 that is arranged in accordance withat least some embodiments of the present disclosure. The example flowdiagram may include one or more operations/modules as illustrated byblocks 401-405, which may represent operations as may be performed in amethod, functional modules in an implant device 100, and/or instructionsas may be recorded on a computer readable medium 123 to be carried outby the various functional elements illustrated in FIG. 3. Theillustrated blocks 401-405 may be arranged to provide functionaloperations including one or more of “Receive “Wake-Up” Transmission ViaAntenna Array” at block 401, “Initiate Communications With ExternalDevice” at block 402, “Detect Direction of Incoming Signals / CalculateAnd Adjust Individual Antenna Phase Settings” at block 403, “Detect AndAdjust Signal Power” at block 404, and/or “Transmit/Receive ImplantDevice Data To/From External Device Via Antenna Array” at block 405.

In FIG. 4, blocks 401-405 are illustrated as being performedsequentially, with block 401 first and block 406 last. It will beappreciated however that these operations may be re-ordered asconvenient to suit particular embodiments, and that these blocks orportions thereof may be performed concurrently in some embodiments. Itwill also be appreciated that in some examples various blocks may beeliminated, divided into additional blocks, and/or combined with otherblocks.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example method by which an implant device 100communicates with an external device. In general, the implant deviceinitiates communications in blocks 401-402, adjust signal settings inblocks 403-404, and/or communicate implant device data in block 405.

In block 401, an implant device 100 may for example receive a low-power“wake-up” transmission via an antenna array coupled to the implantdevice 100. In some embodiments, implant device 100 may for examplecomprise a wake-up receiver coupled to an antenna array. The wake-upreceiver may comprise a low-noise amplifier and an ultra low power wakeup circuit. A communication of a frequency for which the wake-upreceiver is designed, e.g., a 2.45 GHz signal, may cause the wake-upreceiver to signal a microchip controller to start a communicationsession between implant device 100 and an external device. Block 401 maybe followed by block 402.

In block 402, signals may be sent to and/or received from the externaldevice by the implant device 100 via an antenna array. In someembodiments, the signals may comprise test signals that may be measuredfor the purpose of making signal adjustments in blocks 403 and 404. Insome embodiments, the signals may comprise an initial handshake forinitiating a communication session. In some embodiments, the signals maycomprise a first set of implant device data that is transmitted by theimplant device 100, received by the implant device 100, or both. In someembodiments, instructions such as instructions associated with module341 from FIG. 3 may be executed by a microchip controller to initiatecommunications pursuant to block 402. Block 402 may be followed by block403.

In block 403, components such as modules 342 and 343 from FIG. 3 may beactivated to tune antenna array transmission direction, as describedabove. In some embodiments, block 403 may accommodate a position of anexternal device by directing a strongest signal in a direction of theexternal device. Any number of other factors may also affect optimaltransmission direction. For example, clothes worn by a person in whichthe implant is installed, tissue layers of varying thickness andchemical composition, and electromagnetic interference environment mayall impact optimal transmission direction. In some embodiments, optimaltransmission direction may be calculated by an external device toleverage the typically high processing power and power supply of theexternal device. Transmission direction control instructions may then besent by the external device, and received at the implant device 100. Theimplant may modify transmission direction of an array antenna accordingto the received transmission direction control instructions. Block 403may be followed by block 404.

In block 404, components such as module 344 from FIG. 3 may be activatedto adjust signal power, as described above. In some embodiments, signalpower may be adjusted based on a strength of received transmissionsignals, e.g., with an inverse relationship to the strength of receivedsignals as described above. In some embodiments, signal power may beadjusted based on what type of device the implant device 100 iscommunicating with. For example, direct communication with anotherimplant device may utilize more signal power than communication withanother implant device via an external device, using a so-called“two-hop” protocol. In some embodiments, a type of antenna array and/orspecific antenna array properties may be accounted for in adjustingsignal power. For example, the presence of a reflector, number ofantenna elements, phase settings of antenna elements, and other antennaarray properties may be accounted for in power adjustment calculations.Block 404 may be followed by block 405.

In block 405, implant device data may be sent to and received from anexternal device. In general, this operation may comprise preparing datafor wireless transmission pursuant to a selected wireless transmissionprotocol, for example by preparing appropriate discrete data packets,transmission start packets, transmission checksum packets, transmissionacknowledgement packets, and transmission end packets. A carrier wave ofan appropriate transmission frequency, e.g., a carrier wave in the 400MHz range as presently specified by MICS, may then be modulated toencode the prepared data packets. In some embodiments, a carrier wavefor transmission by an antenna array may be split, so that each elementof the antenna array transmits an identical signal. In some embodiments,carrier waves for transmission by one or more antenna elements mayfurthermore be delayed in order to adjust the relative phases of theantenna elements, e.g., in order to achieve signal direction adjustmentas described above.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an example remote antenna arrayunit 500 coupled to an implant device 501, arranged in accordance withat least some embodiments of the present disclosure. Remote antennaarray unit 500 may be disposed under a tissue layer such as skin layer180. A tissue plane 181 associated with skin layer 180 is alsoillustrated. Remote antenna array unit 500 may comprise one or more of ahousing 540, a reflector 170, a spacer 160, an antenna array 150, and/oran implant device interface 510. Antenna array 150 may comprise two ormore antenna elements such as antenna elements 151 and 152. As with thehousing 110 of FIG. 1, the housing 540 of the remote antenna array unit500 and/or antenna elements 151 and 152 may be oriented so that theremote antenna array unit 500 and antenna elements 151 and 152 may besubstantially parallel to the tissue plane 181.

Within the remote antenna array unit 500, antenna elements 151 and 152may be coupled to implant device interface 510 via a coupling 520 whichmay comprise a signal splitter 521 junction with equal length wire leadsto each of the antenna elements 151 and 152. Implant device interface510 may be coupled to an antenna interface 530 associated with implantdevice 100 via wired or wireless connection 532. Implant device data 132may be communicated between implant device 501, antenna array 150,and/or the antenna elements 151 and 152 thereof, via couplings 520 and522, interfaces 510 and 530, and signal splitter 521.

Embodiments such as illustrated in FIG. 5 allow coupling an implantdevice 510 at an optimal treatment location, while placing the antennaarray unit 500 at an optimal location for wireless transmissions, suchas just underneath the skin 180. Couplings 520 and 522 may comprise asignal splitter 521, as illustrated, or may implement individualcouplings as illustrated in FIG. 8, allowing the implant device 501 tosupport signal direction detection and transmission direction control ofremote antenna array unit 500, as described above. The signal splitter521 may for example include a first port and a second port, wherein thefirst port and the second port are coupled to a respective one of thetwo or more individual antenna elements 151, 152, and wherein the signalsplitter is configured such that electromagnetic waves associated withthe first and second ports are in phase with one another.

In some embodiments, remote antenna array unit 500 may furthermorecomprise an individual power supply and microchip controller (not shown)allowing for signal power modulation, direction detection and directioncontrol by the remote antenna array unit 500. Embodiments including anindividual power supply and microchip controller at the array unit alsoallow the option of wireless communications with implant device 501, forexample, implementing a two-hop wireless protocol in which transmissionfrom device 501 are relayed by remote antenna array unit 500 to anexternal device or to another implant device. Such other implant devicemay be coupled to remote antenna array unit 500 via a wired or wirelessconnection, just as with implant device 501.

FIG. 5 illustrates example selected positions of antenna elements 151and 152 and reflector 170. Antenna elements 151 and 152 may for examplebe disposed at a distance of n[(½)λ^(t)], where n comprises the set ofpositive whole numbers [1, 2, 3, . . . ], and [(½)λ^(t)] is one half thewavelength of an electromagnetic wave emitted by an antenna element,adjusted for the dielectric constant of the tissue (as denoted by theletter t). By positioning the antenna elements at a fixed distance ofn[(½)μ^(t)] apart, the fixed distance may be selected to promotedestructive interference of electromagnetic waves emitted by theindividual antenna elements in the plane of the tissue layer 181, andconstructive interference of the electromagnetic waves in a directionsubstantially normal to the plane of the tissue layer. Some variationsfrom the one-half wavelength spacing formula given here may also promotedestructive interference in the tissue plane, so long as the variationremains generally within a range of ±¼ wavelength, as will beappreciated.

FIG. 5 illustrates a distance of [(λ^(s)/4)+(nλ^(s)/2)] between theplane of antenna elements 151 and 152 and the reflector 170, where ncomprises the set of positive whole numbers [0, 1, 2, 3, . . . ], and¼λ^(s) is one fourth the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave emittedby an antenna element, adjusted for the dielectric constant of thespacer material (as denoted by the letter s), and nλ^(s)/2 is n timesone half the wavelength of an electromagnetic wave emitted by an antennaelement, adjusted for the dielectric constant of the spacer material(again, as denoted by the letter s). The antenna array 150 and reflector170 may for example be configured as an image antenna. By positioningthe reflector 170 at a fixed reflecting distance of[(λ^(s)/4)+(nλ^(s)/2)], the reflecting distance is selected to promoteconstructive interference of reflected electromagnetic waves with theelectromagnetic waves emitted by the individual antenna elements in adirection substantially normal to the plane of the tissue layer. This isbecause the reflector 170 causes a phase inversion, or one-halfwavelength (180°) phase shift. A round trip of 2[(λ^(s)/4)+(nλ^(s)/2)]plus a one-half wavelength phase shift will cause reflectedelectromagnetic waves to be in-phase with waves emitted substantiallynormal to the tissue plane 181.

In some embodiments comprising a reflector 170, signal modulation may beadjusted to prevent negative interference effects of modulated signals.This adjustment may comprise for example modulating transmittedelectromagnetic waves in half wavelength segments, and leaving everyother half-wavelength unmodulated. Using this approach, the unmodulatedreflected wave may boost signal power of the modulated unreflected wave,without negatively interfering with modulated wave aspects. Transmissiontime doubles using this approach, however transmission power alsodoubles. The transmission time vs. transmission power tradeoff may beworthwhile in some embodiments, in particular where thick layers oftissue dispose a lossy medium transmission barrier between the antennaarray and external device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating example electromagnetic wavessubstantially parallel and normal to a first plane, in accordance withat least some embodiments of the present disclosure. Here, the firstplane is also a plane of a tissue layer, and so is referred to as atissue plane 181. FIG. 6 illustrates an antenna array 150 comprisingantenna elements 151 and 152. The antenna array 150 may be disposed overskin layer 180, and substantially parallel to tissue plane 181.Electromagnetic waves travelling in a direction 603 substantially normalto tissue plane 181 may produce constructive interference 604.Electromagnetic waves travelling in a direction 601 parallel to tissueplane 181 may produce destructive interference 602.

FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating an example electromagnetic interferencepattern from an antenna array comprising two dipole antennas, arrangedin accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure.In FIG. 7, the antenna array is positioned in the center of the graph.Destructive interference produces little or no radiation in the left andright middle zones of the graph. The strongest signal is centered overthe vertical line in the center of the graph, passing through the zeroon the horizontal axis. Signal strength then tapers off in the zones tothe left and right of the strongest signal.

In FIG. 7, if the horizontal line passing through the zero on thevertical axis were a line on a tissue plane, there would besubstantially zero radiation in the tissue plane. Radiation wouldinstead be directed into the organism and away from the organism. Theradiation directed into the organism may be reflected using a reflectoras disclosed herein (not shown in FIG. 7), thereby enhancing signalstrength directed away from the organism and reducing radiation directedinto the organism.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example antenna array unitwith separately controllable antenna elements, in accordance with atleast some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 comprises animplant device 501 and a top view of an antenna array 150. Antenna array150 comprises antenna elements 151 and 152, also shown in top view.Antenna array 150 may be disposed underneath a skin layer 180.

Implant device 501 may be coupled to antenna element 151 via coupling831, and may thereby send a separately controlled power and/or phaseadjusted signal 832. Implant device 501 may be separately coupled toantenna element 152 via coupling 833, and may thereby send a separatelycontrolled power and/or phase adjusted signal 834. Signals 832 and 834may be encoded with implant device data 132 as described above.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an example implant device 100arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. Example implant device 100 comprises microchip controller120 and antenna array 150. Antenna array 150 may comprise two or moreantenna elements 151 and 152. Microchip controller 120 may compriseRadio Frequency (RF) transceiver 910, wake-up receiver 920, transmitprocessing 930 and/or receive processing 940. Wake-up receiver 920 maycomprise low-noise amplifier (LNA) 921 and/or wake-up circuit 922.

In FIG. 9, a dotted arrow from transmit processing 930, through RFtransceiver 910, to antenna array 150 indicates a send signal path 911.A dotted arrow from antenna array 150, through RF transceiver 910, toreceive processing 940 indicates a receive signal path 912. A dottedarrow from antenna array 150, through wake-up circuit 920, to receiveprocessing 940 indicates a wake-up signal path 913.

FIG. 9 illustrates an implant device 100 comprising a microchipcontroller 120 with onboard transceiver circuitry 910 and 920 configuredfor interaction with antenna array 150 as well as transmit processing930 and receive processing 940. It should be appreciated that RFtransceiver 910 and wake-up receiver 920 may be moved to an off-chip orother external location from micro-chip controller 120 in someembodiments.

In FIG. 9, the RF transceiver 910 may comprise one or more ofamplifiers, filters, phase adjusters, Intermediate Frequency (IF)modulators, demodulators Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converters, and/orDigital-to-Analog (D/A) converters, as appropriate for particularembodiments. For example, in some embodiments send signal path 911 maycomprise one or more of a D/A converter, an IF modulation component, aphase adjuster, and/or an amplifier. Implant device data to be sent viasend signal path 911 may be initially prepared by transmit processing,then sent to RF transceiver 910 to be sent via the various componentsthereof along send signal path 911 for transmission to an externaldevice. Antenna array may for example send the implant device data usinga MICS frequency ranges specified by the FCC and/or the ETSI.

In some embodiments, receive signal path 912 may comprise one or more ofan amplifier, a phase adjuster, a demodulator, and/or an (A/D)converter. Implant device data may be received at antenna array 150 on asignal in a MICS frequency range specified by the FCC and/or the ETSI.Implant device data may be processed by RF transceiver 910 via thevarious components thereof along receive signal path 912, then passed toreceive processing 940.

In some embodiments, wake-up signal path 913 may comprise one or more ofa LNA and/or a wake-up circuit, as shown. A wake-up signal comprising asignal of a predetermined frequency may be received at antenna array150, processed by the various components along wake-up signal path 913,generating a wake-up signal for the chip 920. Wake up signal path 913 isillustrated as terminating at receive processing 940 however wake-upsignal path 913 may terminate at any appropriate control logic foractivating the implant device 100 in response to a wake-up signal (notshown) received via antenna array 150.

The above described example in FIG. 9 is not intended to be limiting,and numerous other examples are contemplated. For example, in someexample embodiments, the RF transceiver 910 may be implemented as aseparate receiver and transmitter. The transceiver may be external tothe microchip controller 120 or internal to the microchip controllerdepending on the particular embodiment. Likewise, for implementationsthat utilized a separate receiver and transmitter, the receiver andtransmitter may be external to the microchip controller 120 or internalto the microchip controller 120. The wake-up receiver 920 may also beeither external or internal to the microchip controller 120, as may berequired in a particular implementation. Also, the antenna array 150 mayeither be internal to the implant device 100 or external to the implantdevice 100, as may be required in a particular implementation.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating example implant device(s) 100A and100B, an external device 200, a network 1012, and a medical providerdevice 1013, arranged in accordance with at least some embodiments ofthe present disclosure. Implant devices 100A and 100B may be coupled toexternal device 200 via wireless connections 1021 and 1022,respectively, along which implant device data 132 may be communicated.External device 200 may be coupled to network 1012 via wired or wirelessconnection 1023, along which implant device data 132 may becommunicated. Network 1012 may be coupled to medical provider device1013 via wired or wireless connection 1024, along which implant devicedata 132 may be communicated.

FIG. 10 illustrates example implant devices 100A and 100B in a systemcomprising a variety of other devices, arranged in accordance with atleast some embodiments of the present disclosure. Implant device data132 may be sent from an implant device 100A, via an array antenna asshown in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 and FIG. 8, to an external device 200. In someembodiments, external device 200 may for example implement a two-hopprotocol in which external device 200 is adapted to forward implantdevice data 132 to implant device 100B. In some embodiments, externaldevice 200 may be arranged to issue commands to one or more implantdevices, for example, commands concerning delivery of therapies by theimplants. In some embodiments, external device 200 may be configured tostore implant device data 132, which may be retrieved at medicalprovider device 1013 for example during a patient visit to a medicalprovider. In some embodiments, external device 200 may be configured tocommunicate certain implant device data 132 to medical provider device1013 via network 1012. For example, a patient emergency alert may besent to medical provider device 1013 if necessary.

There is little distinction left between hardware and softwareimplementations of aspects of systems; the use of hardware or softwareis generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts the choicebetween hardware and software may become significant) a design choicerepresenting cost vs. efficiency tradeoffs. There are various vehiclesby which processes and/or systems and/or other technologies describedherein may be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and/or firmware), andthat the preferred vehicle will vary with the context in which theprocesses and/or systems and/or other technologies are deployed. Forexample, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy areparamount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and/or firmwarevehicle; if flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for amainly software implementation; or, yet again alternatively, theimplementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and/orfirmware.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts,and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/orexamples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those within the art that each function and/or operationwithin such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples may be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof In one embodiment,several portions of the subject matter described herein may beimplemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), FieldProgrammable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), orother integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art willrecognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, may be equivalently implemented in integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors(e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors),as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designingthe circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmwarewould be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light ofthis disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capableof being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, andthat an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described hereinapplies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium usedto actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearingmedium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable typemedium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), aDigital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and atransmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analogcommunication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wiredcommunications link, a wireless communication link, etc.).

Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the artto describe devices and/or processes in the fashion set forth herein,and thereafter use engineering practices to integrate such describeddevices and/or processes into data processing systems. That is, at leasta portion of the devices and/or processes described herein may beintegrated into a data processing system via a reasonable amount ofexperimentation. Those having skill in the art will recognize that atypical data processing system generally includes one or more of asystem unit housing, a video display device, a memory such as volatileand non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors and digitalsignal processors, computational entities such as operating systems,drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one ormore interaction devices, such as a touch pad or screen, and/or controlsystems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g., feedback forsensing position and/or velocity; control motors for moving and/oradjusting components and/or quantities). A typical data processingsystem may be implemented utilizing any suitable commercially availablecomponents, such as those typically found in datacomputing/communication and/or network computing/communication systems.The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates differentcomponents contained within, or connected with, different othercomponents. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures aremerely examples, and that in fact many other architectures may beimplemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense,any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality iseffectively “associated” such that the desired functionality isachieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve aparticular functionality may be seen as “associated with” each othersuch that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective ofarchitectures or intermediate components. Likewise, any two componentsso associated may also be viewed as being “operably connected”, or“operably coupled”, to each other to achieve the desired functionality,and any two components capable of being so associated may also be viewedas being “operably couplable”, to each other to achieve the desiredfunctionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but arenot limited to physically connectable and/or physically interactingcomponents and/or wirelessly interactable and/or wirelessly interactingcomponents and/or logically interacting and/or logically interactablecomponents.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singularterms herein, those having skill in the art may translate from theplural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, termsused herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of theappended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term“including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” theterm “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term“includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,”etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if aspecific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such anintent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence ofsuch recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid tounderstanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of theintroductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claimrecitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed toimply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinitearticles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing suchintroduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one suchrecitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases“one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or“an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “atleast one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use ofdefinite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, evenif a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitlyrecited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitationshould typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number(e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without othermodifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or morerecitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a conventionanalogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in generalsuch a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the artwould understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one ofA, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have Aalone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where aconvention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, ingeneral such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill inthe art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at leastone of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that haveA alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and Ctogether, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be furtherunderstood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive wordand/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in thedescription, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplatethe possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, orboth terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood toinclude the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

While certain example techniques have been described and shown hereinusing various methods, devices and systems, it should be understood bythose skilled in the art that various other modifications may be made,and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from claimedsubject matter. Additionally, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation to the teachings of claimed subject matter withoutdeparting from the central concept described herein. Therefore, it isintended that claimed subject matter not be limited to the particularexamples disclosed, but that such claimed subject matter also mayinclude all implementations falling within the scope of the appendedclaims, and equivalents thereof

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A microchip controller couplable to an implantdevice that is implantable inside an organism and adapted to wirelesslycommunicate via an antenna array with a device external to the implantdevice, the antenna array comprising two or more individual antennaelements, the microchip controller comprising: a Radio Frequency (RF)transceiver that includes a send path and a receive path, wherein the RFtransceiver send path is configured to convert implant device data intoRF signals, and to transmit RF signals via the antenna array to thedevice external to the implant device, and wherein the RF transceiverreceive path is configured to convert RF signals received from theantenna array into data adapted for consumption by the implant device;and wherein the RF transceiver send path is configured to adjust phaseof RF signals transmitted by each of the individual antenna elements inthe antenna array to adjust a strongest signal direction of transmittedRF signals.
 19. The microchip controller of claim 18, wherein the RFtransceiver send path is adapted for wireless communication in a MedicalImplanted Communication Service (MICS) frequency range.
 20. Themicrochip controller of claim 18, further comprising a wake-up receiverconfigured to receive a wake-up signal from the antenna array and wakeup the microchip controller in response to receiving the wake-up signal.21. The microchip controller of claim 18, wherein the RF transceiversend path is configured to adjust RF signals transmitted by each of theindividual antenna elements in the antenna array to promote destructiveinterference of RF signals emitted by the individual antenna elements ina first plane, the first plane corresponding to a tissue plane when theimplant device is implanted in the organism, and to promote constructiveinterference of the RF signals in a direction substantially normal tothe first plane.
 22. The microchip controller of claim 21, wherein theindividual antenna elements of the antenna array are configured in asubstantially parallel alignment at a fixed distance with respect to oneanother of substantially n[(½)λ^(t)], where n comprises a whole numberselected from the set of positive whole numbers [1, 2, 3, . . . ], and[(½)λ^(t)] is one half of the wavelength of λ^(t) in tissue inside theorganism.
 23. The microchip controller of claim 18, wherein the antennaarray further comprises a reflector and a spacer material separating thereflector and the antenna array, wherein the reflector is configured ata fixed reflecting distance with respect to the antenna array of[(λ^(s)/4)+(nλ^(s)/2)], where n comprises a whole number selected fromthe set of positive whole numbers [1, 2, 3, . . . ] and λ^(s) is awavelength of electromagnetic signals transmitted by the antenna arrayin the spacer material, and wherein the RF transceiver send path isconfigured to accommodate effects of the reflector on transmitted RFsignals when adjusting RF signals transmitted by each of the individualantenna elements in the antenna array.
 24. The microchip controller ofclaim 18, further comprising a signal power control component adapted tocontrol signal level for each of the individual antenna elements, andwherein the microchip controller is configured to adjust an antennasignal level for a non-failed antenna element in response to a detectedfailure of an individual antenna element.
 25. The microchip controllerof claim 24, further comprising an antenna element failure detectioncomponent adapted to detect the failure of an individual antennaelement.
 26. The microchip controller of claim 18, wherein the microchipcontroller is adapted to evaluate relative phases of signals receivedvia the individual antenna elements of the antenna array coupled to theRF transceiver receive path to determine a transmission directionassociated with the received signals.
 27. The microchip controller ofclaim 26, wherein the microchip controller is adapted to adjust phase ofthe individual antenna elements to transmit the strongest signal in thetransmission direction associated with the received signals.
 28. Themicrochip controller of claim 18, wherein the microchip controller isadapted to receive biometric data from one or more sensors, and toinclude the received biometric data in the transmitted implant devicedata.
 29. The microchip controller of claim 18, wherein the microchipcontroller is adapted to control therapy delivery by the implant deviceaccording to instructions received via the RF transceiver receive path.30. The microchip controller of claim 18, wherein the microchipcontroller is adapted to initiate a communication via the RF transceiversend path in response to one or more of a low battery event indicatinglow battery power remaining in the implant device, an emergencycondition event associated with a dangerous condition in the organism,or a component failure event indicating failure of an implant devicecomponent or individual antenna element.
 31. The microchip controller ofclaim 18, wherein the microchip controller is adapted to adjust signalpower of RF signals provided to the antenna array via the RF transceiversend path.
 32. The microchip controller of claim 18, wherein themicrochip controller is adapted to increase signal power of RF signalsprovided to the antenna array via the RF transceiver send path inresponse to receiving RF signals via the RF transceiver send path,wherein the received RF signals are at or below a low signal powerthreshold.
 33. The microchip controller of claim 18, wherein themicrochip controller is adapted to decrease signal power of RF signalsprovided to the antenna array via the RF transceiver send path inresponse to receiving RF signals via the RF transceiver send path,wherein the received RF signals are at or above a high signal powerthreshold.
 34. A wireless communications method for a microchipcontroller couplable to an implant device that is implantable inside anorganism and adapted to wirelessly communicate via an antenna array witha device external to the implant device, the antenna array comprisingtwo or more individual antenna elements, the wireless communicationsmethod comprising: controlling a Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver in themicrochip controller to adjust a strongest signal direction oftransmitted RF signals, wherein the RF transceiver includes a send pathand a receive path, wherein the RF transceiver send path is configuredto convert implant device data into RF signals, and to transmit RFsignals via the antenna array to the device external to the implantdevice, and wherein the RF transceiver receive path is configured toconvert RF signals received from the antenna array into data adapted forconsumption by the implant device; and wherein the RF transceiver sendpath adjusts relative phases of RF signals transmitted by each of theindividual antenna elements in the antenna array to adjust the strongestsignal direction of transmitted RF signals.
 35. The wirelesscommunications method of claim 34, wherein the RF transceiver send pathis adapted for wireless communication in a Medical ImplantedCommunication Service (MICS) frequency range.
 36. The wirelesscommunications method of claim 34, further comprising receiving awake-up signal from the antenna array and waking up the microchipcontroller in response to receiving the wake-up signal.
 37. The wirelesscommunications method of claim 34, wherein the RF transceiver iscontrolled to adjust RF signals transmitted by each of the individualantenna elements in the antenna array to promote destructiveinterference of RF signals emitted by the individual antenna elements ina first plane, the first plane corresponding to a tissue plane when theimplant device is implanted in the organism, and to promote constructiveinterference of the RF signals in a direction substantially normal tothe first plane.
 38. The wireless communications method of claim 37,wherein the individual antenna elements of the antenna array areconfigured in a substantially parallel alignment at a fixed distancewith respect to one another of substantially n[(½)λ^(t)], where ncomprises a whole number selected from the set of positive whole numbers[1, 2, 3, . . . ], and [(½)λ^(t)] is one half of the wavelength of λ^(t)in tissue inside the organism.
 39. The wireless communications method ofclaim 34, wherein the antenna array further comprises a reflector and aspacer material separating the reflector and the antenna array, whereinthe reflector is configured at a fixed reflecting distance with respectto the antenna array of [(λ^(s)/4)+(nλ^(s)/2)], where n comprises awhole number selected from the set of positive whole numbers [1, 2, 3, .. . ] and λ^(s) is a wavelength of electromagnetic signals transmittedby the antenna array in the spacer material, and wherein the RFtransceiver send path is configured to accommodate effects of thereflector on transmitted RF signals when adjusting RF signalstransmitted by each of the individual antenna elements in the antennaarray.
 40. The wireless communications method of claim 34, furthercomprising adjusting signal level for a non-failed antenna element inresponse to a detected failure of an individual antenna element.
 41. Thewireless communications method of claim 34, further comprisingevaluating relative phases of signals received via the individualantenna elements of the antenna array coupled to the RF transceiverreceive path to determine a transmission direction associated with thereceived signals.
 42. The wireless communications method of claim 41,further comprising adjusting phase of the individual antenna elements totransmit the strongest signal in the transmission direction associatedwith the received signals.
 43. The wireless communications method ofclaim 34, further comprising one or more of: receiving biometric datafrom one or more sensors, and including the received biometric data inthe transmitted implant device data; or controlling therapy delivery bythe implant device according to instructions received via the RFtransceiver receive path.
 44. The wireless communications method ofclaim 34, further comprising one or more of: increasing signal power ofRF signals provided to the antenna array via the RF transceiver sendpath in response to receiving RF signals via the RF transceiver sendpath, wherein the received RF signals are at or below a low signal powerthreshold; or decreasing signal power of RF signals provided to theantenna array via the RF transceiver send path in response to receivingRF signals via the RF transceiver send path, wherein the received RFsignals are at or above a high signal power threshold.